1. HERE Seminar Qualifications Frameworks: What are they, how do they work, what is their impact? September hosted by the Warsaw University of Technology Michael Gaebel

2. SPHERE activities
Support to Higher Education Reform Experts in 26 European Neighbourhood countries
Provided by the European Commission through the EACEA
Implemented by SPHERE consortium:
University of Barcelona & European University Association (EUA)
2 thematic seminars
2 study visits at higher education institutions
Technical Assistance Missions (TAM - approx 55/year)
Targeted county assistance
Annual call for proposals
Expert provided for national support/national activity
Annual conference
Website and Virtual Community

3. Participants’ Survey 50 responses – 21 countries
QF for HE only
Jordan, Palestinian Territory
QF for all education sectors
Azerbaijan; Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Georgia, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Montenegro, Morocco, Serbia, Turkmenistan
Different answers
Algeria, Armenia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan
* no response: Syria

4. Purpose of QF

5. Benefits Stimulate and promote the development of learning outcomes 38
Enhance transparency between degrees and qualifications nationally 37
Support the national quality assurance system 33
Support flexible learning pathways and lifelong learning 32
Aid recognition of foreign degrees and qualifications and mobility between systems 31
A stronger focus on the actual qualification – rather than on the reputation of the education sector or institution that it awards 18

6. Their implementation is often not sufficiently resourced 25
Drawbacks
responses
Their implementation is often not sufficiently resourced 25
Qualifications are always to be seen in the context of the institution that issues them (an NQF cannot change this) 18
QFs are top down and do not engage the right stakeholders to ensure their buy-in 16
Bureaucratising education 13
We do not yet really know if they can deliver on their intentions – There are few successful cases 9
Other (*There is no specifications) 5

7. This seminar “Everything you always wanted to know”
Survey: All topics (except doctorates)
“Interactive Plenary sessions” = keep time slots, ask short questions, comments to the point
Unanswered questions?
3 breakout sessions
stick to your groups
move

8. SPHERE Contacts Elizabeth Colucci: elizabeth.colucci@eua.be
Nicolas Patrici:
General queries: